Medicine

Singapore, 9 April 2013 – GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) have signed a five-year strategic agreement to develop new evidence based formulations (EBFs) specifically for emerging markets. EBFs are medicines which are reformulated to provide additional patient benefit.

The World Health Organisation has reported seven people in China have contracted Influenza A H7N9, including two deaths. The UK and Australian Science Media Centre has asked some experts for their opinions. Journalists are welcome to use these expert quotes.

Microscale medical sensors inserted under the skin can be powered wirelessly by an external handheld receiver

A project supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) is helping smallholder shrimp farmers in Sri Lanka adapt their industry’s best management practices to local needs. This could lead to fewer disease outbreaks, bigger and more profitable shrimp, and fewer negative environmental impacts.

Yan Chai Hospital Social Services Department (YCHSSD), in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has developed a novel health qigong protocol for frail elderly in Hong Kong.

Wildlife Conservation Society and National University of Singapore discover American bullfrog is spreading Chytrid through commercial trade

Universiti Teknologi MARA researchers outline a non-invasive method for detecting brain tumours by utilizing spectral texture features of the MRI images

Opinion article by Assist. Prof. Maho Isono, a cultural anthropologist in medicine. "Medical personnel frequently have feelings and conflicts that are not expressed to their patients, while patients often experience confusion and hesitation that are not told to medical personnel."

Safe and inexpensive iron catalysts provide a ‘greener’ alternative to typical pharmaceutical production methods

New design guidelines from researchers in Singapore simplify the development of targeted therapies for muscular dystrophy and other diseases

Influenza scientists this week announce their intention to resume research into H5N1 avian influenza virus transmission in countries in which governments and institutions have given approval and in which appropriate biosafety and biosecurity conditions have been met. The announcement is published jointly in the journals Nature and Science.

Kuala Lumpur, 23 Jan - Malaysian researchers have revealed the presence of multidrug-resistant strains of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen burger patties taken from supermarkets and other retail shops in Malaysia. The research was published in Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science.

Funded by the International Development Research Centre, their goal is to understand how dengue is transmitted in the city, focusing on — health, the environment and climate, human behaviour, and urban planning, among others. This knowledge is critical for preventing the spread of the mosquito vector and controlling the virus.

(Kanazawa, Japan, 4 Jan) From atomic force microscopy for moving biomolecules; to the motion of titanium in the mantle; atomically controlled diamond surfaces for next-generation high-power electronics and more— Kanazawa University Research Bulletin an overview of their research.

"Regularly trained athletes often do too much exercise, and they catch a cold more easily than general people." An interview with Takao Akama, Professor at Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University in Japan about how athletes' health and immunity.

Computer simulations of blood flow through mechanical heart valves could pave the way for more individualized prosthetics

Genetic variants associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocelullar carcinoma (HCC) are reported this week in Nature Genetics. Chronic HBV infection is a primary risk factor for HCC, one of the most common cancers worldwide.

The cortical mechanisms governing speech are not well understood because it is extremely challenging to measure the activity of the brain in action, that is, during speech production. Researchers in Japan have found modulation of mu-rhythms in the cortex related to speech production.

The British High Commission in Singapore announces a Call for Proposals to support the initial stages of new collaborations between UK and Southeast Asia researchers in the field of Translational Skin Biology. Applications by 14th December 2012.

Singapore, 27 Nov- A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and SFC Fluidics, a USA microfluidics-based biomedical device development company, will be collaborating to develop a portable diagnostic tool for rapid triaging of traumatic brain injury (TBI) victims and to improve the treatment strategies.

A total of 27 Malaysian researchers were adjudged the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) 2012 and conferred the Fellowship of the Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM), at a function held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Of these, 12 were from UPM.

Aichi, Japan, 19 November 2012 - Over 180 participants attended the IRAGO Conference in Aichi, Japan which aimed to enhance mutual understanding between scientists, engineers and policy makers. Topics tackled ranged from energy and natural resources to public health and disaster prevention.

Dusseldorf, Germany, 14 November 2012 – The Biofactory introduced today its ColoQuik line of label-free kits for the rapid colorimetric detection of protein-DNA interactions in biomedical research labs and the pharmaceutical industry. The kits are based on a unique technology developed by A*STAR Singapore.

A model that shows how connections in the brain must change to form memories could help to develop artificial cognitive computers

Alternative treatment for diabetics. Researchers Indah Mohd Amin, Nurhayati and Kaleswari from University Teknologi MARA, Malaysia studied the suitability of Abelmoschus Esculentus (AE) as complementary or as an alternative approach to treat diabetics.

When comes to minor complaints, chronic conditions and even fatal illnesses, we often turn to ginseng and other herbal remedies. That is why traditional Chinese medicine has become an integral part of our life. But how many of us really know the effectiveness of these Chinese medicines from various sources?

University Teknologi MARA researchers conducted a study on Norovirus (NoV) in lettuces. The virus causes outbreaks of Gastroenteritis among children below age 5 in Malaysia.

Researchers from France and Thailand have trialled a dengue vaccine in over 4000 Thai children. While overall there was no difference between the number of dengue cases recorded following vaccination, secondary tests showed that the vaccine was effective against three of the four dengue viruses.

(Tokyo, 27 August 2012) The bulletin contains cutting research from fish collagen for cosmetics and medical applications to multi-petaflop supercomputing, and environmentally responsive organic materials.

Water plays a key role in the co-crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients